Art Center Receives Part of $30,000 Donation from Oakland County

The was one of 17 southeast Michigan charities and non-profits that received part of $31,750 raised through Oakland County's "Casual Day."

The award was presented Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 14 at the Oakland County Executive Office Building by County Executive L. Brooks Patterson.

The funds were raised by county employees over the past year by paying into a "Casual Day" fund every time they wanted to dress down for work. The program has been giving back to area non-profits for 19 years.

"Oakland County employees are generous even during tough times," Patterson said. "Casual Day is one of many ways our employees give back throughout the year."

In addition, seven additional individuals and organizations, such as the American Heart Association and Susan G. Komen's Passionately Pink for the Cure, received funds totaling $10,700.

"Since Casual Day's inception 19 years ago, Oakland County employees have donated more than a half million dollars, touching the lives of thousand of people," Patterson said.

The organizations receiving Casual Day funds this year include:

• American Diabetes Association (Bingham Farms)
• Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center (Birmingham)
• Child Abuse and Neglect Council — CARE House (Pontiac)
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Metropolitan Detroit-NW Ohio Chapter (Troy)
• Donate Life Coalition of Michigan (Commerce)
• FernCare (Ferndale)
• Give-A-Christmas Year Round (Troy)
• Kids Kicking Cancer (Detroit)
• PKD Foundation (Detroit)
• Oxford/Orion FISH (Orion Township)
• Paint Creek Center for the Arts (Rochester)
• POH Children's Health Services (Pontiac)
• Rainbow Connection (Rochester)
• SandCastles Grief Support Program (Detroit)
• Toys for Tots (Waterford)
• William E. Scripps Estate/Guest House, Inc. (Lake Orion)
• Winning Futures (Warren)